Searchult is a browser hijacker that can enter the computer unexpectedly and change web browser settings without asking
Searchult is a questionable search engine that changes default settings of Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or another browser and sets homepage to Searchult.com. Due to these modifications to web browsers, the program is categorized as a browser hijacker[1] – one of the potentially unwanted program types.
Unwanted applications like Searchult enter machines without users' direct approval, as they are often included in software bundles that are hosted on third-party sites. Nevertheless, PUPs can often be downloaded from their official websites or other legitimate sources, such as Chrome web store. Despite that, it does not mean that the application is beneficial and that it is entirely safe to use.
While Searchult hijack is not as dangerous as ransomware or other serious malware infection, you should not ignore it. It might bring you to sites that offer bogus software, spy on your web browsing habits and spam most sites that you visit with ads.
| Name | Searchult |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Distribution | Software bundling, third-party sites, ads |
| Symptoms | Changed web browser settings, intrusive ads, sponsored links, etc. |
| Risks | Installation of other unwanted software, loss of money |
| Termination | Delete unwanted programs with anti-malware software like FortectIntego or use our manual removal guide below |
After changing web browser settings, Searchult will take over your search results, as they will be redirected to Yahoo. However, unlike the legitimate version of Yahoo, users will see many sponsored links that lead to predetermined websites. These are the links that third-parties paid for, and sometimes might not be exactly useful or even safe.
This is why Searchult removal is recommended, especially if the hijack happened without your consent. Be aware that the unwanted program might also have injected your desktop shortcuts and the Start Menu with its own argument – a technique that can be used for PUP persistence.
Besides sponsored links and ads, Searchult virus victims might sometimes face multiple redirects once they enter an unsafe site. This activity might be especially dangerous, as the endpoint of rerouting is not known, which means that you might end up on malware-laden or hacked sites that could infect your PC with worms, rootkits,[2] trojans, or other dangerous malware. Nevertheless, such a scenario is less likely, especially if you use security software with real-time protection feature.
Another reason to remove Searchult hijacker is due to its data-gathering activities. The unwanted program might collect a variety of information about you in order to serve you targeted ads. For example:
- IP address
- Geolocation
- Search queries
- Links clicked
- Sites visited
- Bookmarks added, etc.
The aggregated data is then shared with third parties for more profits. As technology is moving forward, data is one of the most valuable assets in the marketing business, so there is no surprise there that cookies and other tracking technologies are used in order to harvest it.
You can uninstall Searchult by following our step-by-step guide below or by employing reputable anti-malware software. We recommend using FortectIntego, although other tools that specialize in potentially unwanted programs can be used as well.
Browser hijacking applications should be avoided
Browser hijackers are considered to be a minor computer threat, as browsers now became smarter and are more resistant to such infections (along with online scams that lurk the internet). Nevertheless, it does not mean that you should let them into your machine every time you install new software, as PUPs tend to modify web browser settings, and, even if you not likely to end up with malware on your device, resetting these settings each time can be frustrating.
You may be tricked into downloading the unwanted application on your computer when downloading various download managers, PDF creators, video streaming software, and similar programs. Fortunately, you don't have to be a PC expert if you want to avoid infiltration of browser hijackers or other potentially unwanted programs.
You need to be more careful when selecting freeware and also dedicate more time for its installation. First of all, you should check out reviews online – these can often indicate if the app has any fishy features that are not instantly disclosed. If everything looks fine, then start the installation of the program that you need.
Before you finalize the process, you should pick Custom or Advanced installation option that allows seeing what “optional” components are trying to get inside the system. If you find a checkmark stating that you agree to install plugins, add-ons or extensions, or that you agree to change your default search engine, you should remove them ASAP.
Remove Searchult from your computer and clean your browsers
If you are bothered by Searchult redirects, annoying pop-up ads,[3] and similar inconveniences, you should waste no time and get rid of this browser hijacker that is hiding in your computer and causing these issues. For that, you can choose from manual or automatic option – pick the one that suits you best.
In some cases, Searchult removal via the installed program list and full reset should suffice to stop the unwanted ads and sponsored links from appearing on your browser again. However, if the unwanted program altered your desktop shortcuts and Start Menu items, a more advanced approach is recommended.
You can remove Searchult virus traces and modifications if you scan your computer with anti-malware software. Such tools are specifically designed to find all the elements of the unwanted program and delete them automatically. Besides, security software can also check for other potentially dangerous apps and malware.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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